Astrologers think that
astrology, with the knowledge it gives of
astral powers, individually or in combination, and of astral influences
upon elemental creations, enables them to know the things that are going
to be in the world of the elements, before they are created. The
positions of the spheres and the stars (are) thus (taken to) indicate
every single kind of future event, both universal and individual.

The ancient (astrologers) were of the opinion that the
knowledge of astral powers and influence is acquired through experience.
It (thus) is something that all (human) lives combined would not be able
to achieve, because experience is obtained through numerous repetitions
which make the obtainment of (empirical) knowledge or conjectures
possible. Astral revolutions may be very long. Greatly extended periods
of time are required for their repetition. Even (all) the lives 1044in the world
(combined) would be too short for (observing) them.

Some weak-minded (astrologers) take the attitude that the
knowledge of astral powers and influences comes through revelation. This
is a fallacy. They themselves have furnished us arguments sufficient to
refute it. The clearest proof is that, as one knows, of all people, the
prophets are least familiar with the crafts.1045
They do not undertake to give information about the supernatural,
unless (such information) comes (to them)
from God. Why, then, should they claim to produce (supernatural
information) through a craft (such as astrology) and make it the law for
their followers to do so?

Ptolemy and his followers were of the opinion that the
stars are able to indicate (the future) as the natural result of a
temper they produce in the elemental existing things. He said: 1046"(This must be so,) because the activity of
sun and moon and their influence upon elemental things are so obvious
that no one can deny them. For instance, the sun influences the changes
and tempers of the seasons, the ripening of fruits and grains, and so
on. The moon influences humidity, the water, the (process) of ripening
(putrefaction) in putrescent substances and cucumbers, and so on."
Ptolemy continued: "With regard to the stars that come after sun and
moon, we have two approaches. One - which, however, is unsatisfactory -
is to follow the tradition of the astrological authorities. The other is
(to rely upon) conjecture and empirical knowledge gained through
comparing each star to the sun, whose nature and influence is clearly
known to us. We thus note whether a given star increases the power and
temper of (the sun) at (its) conjunction (with it). If this is the case,
we know that the nature of that particular star agrees with that of the
sun. If, on the other hand, (the star) diminishes (the power and temper
of the sun), we know that its nature is opposite to that of (the sun).
1047Then, when
we know the individual powers of the stars, we (can also) know them in
combination. That happens when they look upon each other in the trine,
the quartile, or other aspects. The knowledge here is derived from the
natures of the signs (of the zodiac), which similarly (are known)
through comparison with the sun.

"Thus, we get to know all the astral powers. They
exercise an influence upon the air. This is obvious. The resulting
temper of the air communicates itself to the created things below the
air, and shapes sperm and seeds. Thus, (this temper) comes to underlie
the body created from (sperm or seed), the soul which attaches itself to
the body, pours itself into the body, and acquires its perfection from
the body, and all the conditions depending on soul and body. The
qualities of sperm and seed are the qualities of the things that are
created and produced from (sperm and seed)." 1048

(Ptolemy) continued: "Still, (astrology) remains
conjectural and is not certain in any respect. It also forms no part of
the divine decree - that is, predestination. It is just one of the
natural causes common to all existing things, whereas the divine decree
is prior to everything." This is the sum total of
the discussion by Ptolemy and his colleagues. (This discussion) is found
in the Quadriiartitum and other works.

It makes the weakness of the achievements of astrology
clear. Knowledge of, or conjectures about, things that come into being
can only result from knowledge of all their causes, that is, agent,
recipient, form, and end, as has been explained in the proper place.
According to (the astrologers), the astral powers are merely agents. The
elemental part is the recipient. Furthermore, the astral powers are not
the sole agents. There are other powers that act together with (the
astral powers) upon the material element (involved), such as the
generative power of father and species contained in the sperm, the
powers of the particular quality distinguishing each variety within the
species, and other things. When the astral powers reach perfection and
are known, they (still) are only one among many causes that go into the
making of a thing that comes into being.

Furthermore,1049 in addition to a knowledge of
astral powers and influences, a great amount of conjecturing and
guesswork is required. Only then is (the astrologer) able to guess that
a thing might happen. Now, conjecturing and guesswork are powers in the
mind of the student. They are not causes or reasons 1050of the things that come into being; Without conjectures and
guesswork, (astrology) steps down from conjecture to doubtfulness.
1050a

Such is the situation (even) if one's knowledge of the
astral powers is accurate and without defect. Now, that is difficult.
The ability to calculate the courses of the stars is required in order
to know their positions. Moreover, it is not proven that every star has
its own particular power. The method Ptolemy used in establishing the
powers of the five planets, that is, comparison with the sun, is a weak
one, because the power of the sun is superior to all (other) astral
powers and dominates them. Thus, one hardly ever becomes aware of an
increase or decrease in the (powers of the sun) at its conjunction (with
a given star) ,1051as Ptolemy said. All this speaks against
the assumption that it is possible to predict things that will happen in
the world of the elements with the help of astrology.

Furthermore, it is wrong to assume that the stars
exercise an influence on (the world) below them. It has been proven
deductively in the chapter on the Oneness of God, as one has seen, 1052that there is no agent but God. In this connection,
speculative theologians use the self-evident argument that how causes
are related to the things caused is not known, and suspicion attaches to
the conclusions of the intellect regarding what appears superficially to
be (due to some definite) influence. Perhaps, the relationship of (the
causes to the things caused) is effected by some other than the ordinary
form of influence. The divine power (would seem to) tie the two
together, as it does with all created things, (both) high and low,
especially since the religious law attributes all happenings to the
power of God and does not want to have anything to do with anything
else.

Prophecy also denies the importance and influence of the
stars. A perusal of the legal material also attests this fact. For
instance, (Muhammad) said: "No eclipse of either sun or moon takes place
to indicate the death or life of anybody." 1053And
(God) said: "Some of My servants believe in Me. Others do not. Those who
say, 'We had rain through the kindness and mercy of God,' believe in Me
and do not believe in the stars. Whereas those who say, 'We had rain
through such and such a constellation,' do not believe in Me, but
believe in the stars," (as) the sound tradition (goes). 1054Thus, the worthlessness
of astrology from the point of view of the religious law, as well as the
weakness of its achievements from the rational point of view, are
evident. In addition, astrology does harm to human civilization. It
hurts the faith of the common people when an astrological judgment
occasionally happens to come true in some unexplainable and unverifiable
manner. Ignorant people are taken in by that and suppose that all the
other (astrological) judgments must be true, which is not the case.
Thus, they are led to attribute things to some (being) other than their
Creator.

Further, astrology often produces the expectation that
signs of crisis 1055will appear in a dynasty. This
encourages the enemies and rivals of the dynasty to attack (it) and
revolt (against it). We have (personally) observed much of the sort. It
is, therefore, necessary that astrology be forbidden to all civilized
people, because it may cause harm to religion and dynasty. The fact that
it exists as a natural part of human perceptions and knowledge does not
speak against (the need to forbid it). God and evil exist side by side
in the world and cannot be removed. Responsibility comes in connection
with the things that cause good and evil. It is (our) duty to try to
acquire goodness with the help of the things that cause it, and to avoid
the causes of evil and harm. That is what those who realize the
corruption and harmfulness of this science must do.

This (situation) should make one realize that even if
astrology were in itself sound, no Muslim could acquire the knowledge
and habit of it. He who studies it and thinks that he knows it fully, is
most ignorant of the actual situation. Since the religious law forbids
the study of astrology, civilized people no longer gather to study it
and to form classes 1056 for the study of astrology. Those
who are eager to learn it ­ and they are very, very few - have to read
the books and treatises on astrology in a secluded corner of their
houses. They have to hide from the people and are under the watchful eye
of the great mass. And then, astrology is a very complicated subject
with many branches and subdivisions and is difficult to understand. How
could people under such conditions acquire a mastery of it?
Jurisprudence is of general usefulness in both religious and worldly
affairs; its sources are easily available in the Qur'an and the accepted
Sunnah, and it has been studied and taught by the great mass of Muslims.
There have been classes and seminars (on jurisprudence). There has been
much instruction (in it) and a great many lectures. Still, only an
occasional individual in each age and generation (race) has been able to
master it. How, then, can anyone learn a subject (such as astrology)
that is discarded by the religious law, banned as forbidden and illegal,
concealed from the great mass, its sources difficult of access, and
that, after the study and acquisition of its basic principles and
details, requires a great amount of support from conjecture and
guesswork on the part of the student? 1057 How could anyone
acquire and become skilled in such a subject in the face of all (these
difficulties)? Anybody who claims (such astrological skill) is
frustrated and has no witness to attest (to his claim), because the
discipline (of astrology) is unusual in Islam and few people cultivate
it. When all this is taken into consideration, the soundness of our
opinion (with regard to astrology) will become clear. God "knows the
supernatural (secrets), and He does not disclose to anyone His
supernatural (secrets)." 1058

Some of our contemporaries had an experience of the
(futility of astrology) when the Arabs overpowered the army of Sultan
Abul-Hasan.1059 They laid siege to him in al­Qayrawan. There
was much unrest among the two parties, both
friends and foes. On that occasion, the Tunisian poet Abul-Qasim
ar-Rahawi, said:

Constantly, I ask God for forgiveness. Gone is life and
ease.

In Tunis, both in the morning and in the evening­

And the morning belongs to God as does the evening -

There is fear and hunger and death, Stirred up by tumult
and pestilence.

People are in rebellion and at war­

Rarely does anything good come out of rebellion.

The partisans of Ahmad think that perdition And ruin have
descended upon 'Ali.1060

And the others say: He ('Ali) will be brought (back) To
you by a mild zephyr.

God is above this one and
that one.

He destines for His two servants whatever He wishes.

O you observer of the retreating, running 1061(stars)! What did these
heaven(ly bodies) do?